Okie Dokies gets ready to fire up the smoker for some 'Swannanoa swine dining'

Local eatery set to return 14 months after Helene

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
November 21, 2025

Steven and Jody Dunning, who established Okie Dokies Smokehouse in Swannanoa in 2007, are preparing to open their restaurant 14 months after Tropical Storm Helene. Photo by Fred McCormick

Since 2007, the familiar scents of slow-cooked brisket, ribs and slabs of pork have beckoned motorists along U.S. 70, in the heart of Swannanoa. Known equally for its hospitable down-home atmosphere and slabs of meat drizzled with homemade sauces, Okie Dokies Smokehouse has long been an anchor in the unincorporated community’s business district.

Like many of its neighboring businesses, the constant stream of customers ceased, suddenly and shockingly, on the morning of Sept. 27, 2024, as Tropical Storm Helene decimated the area. Fourteen months later, the owners and staff are preparing to fire up the smokers and bring the familiar flavor back to the Swannanoa Valley.

Steve and Jody Dunning entered the burgeoning Western N.C. food scene in 1999, establishing a roadside barbecue food truck before leasing restaurant space at the Black Mountain Golf Course. When they needed to expand their growing endeavor, the couple did not need to look far.

“We wanted to be part of the community and be a place the community felt welcome,” said Steve, who was introduced to his craft by a Texas native in 1996. “When we first looked at this place, we were thinking of just using the bottom level to base our food truck and catering operations out of, but the tenant on the upper level closed. At that point, the logical move was to open a barbecue restaurant.”

During normal operations, the Dunnings and their crew cook slabs of meat on a wood fire for up to 16 hours each day, serving pulled pork, chopped beef or smoked chicken with “southern fried pickles” and hushpuppies to hungry locals and out-of-town visitors.

“I love barbecue, as most people do,” Steve said. “Here, it’s always been about consistency, having the same quality of product day-in and day-out. And, that’s not just the food, but the service, the hours and all of it.”

While the business endured more than its fair share of challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the owners never imagined the Swannanoa River, situated on the opposite side of the five-lane highway, could reach their property.

“It hadn’t even occurred to me,” said Steve, who was working diligently to mitigate water intrusion at his home in Black Mountain the night before Helene. “I was just here at midnight the night before, to pick up a shop vacuum for my house, and at no point did I even think about the river getting over here.”

When the Dunnings emerged from their home the following afternoon, navigating washed out roads and avoiding fallen trees, they were greeted by a ruinous landscape when they arrived at their Swannanoa business. The entire lot was under a thick layer of mud, the basement had been flooded and two Okie Dokies vehicles were washed away or destroyed in the disaster.

A new sign at Okie Dokies Smokehouse in Swannanoa denotes the year the barbecue restaurant opened its doors and the year it will reopen, following Helene. Photo by Fred McCormick

“I was dumbfounded,” Steve said. “There was mud all over the bottom level, debris from the surrounding neighborhood was pushed up against the building, and one of our food trucks was covered with mud and debris. It was difficult to comprehend.”

At first glance, the owners were hoping to reopen the following spring or summer.

“Of course, those came and went, but a big part of what took so long is that we figured, while we were down, we could work on refreshing some things,” Steve said.

The owners enclosed a large porch on the western side of the structure, adding more indoor seating, while a brand new kitchen and office was designed and constructed. The smokehouse, a shed in the rear of the building, was completely overhauled, while Steve sent his massive A.N. Bewley barbecue pit to Texas for repairs.

Friends, neighbors, staff and customers quickly rallied to support Okie Dokies, according to the owner.

“From the beginning, we have always made it a priority to find ways we can help others in the community, whether it’s sponsoring events, donating gift cards or whatever we can do to help,” Steve said. “This past year, we’ve been the ones on the receiving end of help, and it’s hard to go from one end to the other. But, in a lot of ways, it really validates all of the energy we’ve put into this community because they were there for us when we needed them.”

With nearly all inspections completed, the Dunnings plan to reopen by late November or early December, according to Steve.

“It’s been a process, for sure,” he said. “We’re really glad we took the time to refresh everything, even though it is still mostly the same. It’s important that when we do reopen, we’re giving the community something to look forward to and be excited about.”

Steven Dunning examines the smoker in Okie Dokies Smokehouse, a popular Swannanoa restaurant that is reopening more than a year after a natural disaster devastated the community. Photo by Fred McCormick

The menu, he added, will feature “tried and true staples that everybody loves,” while past favorites, like smoked turkey and chicken wings, will be back.

“We’ve talked about bringing in brisket chili as a special this winter, and a big favorite for us at festivals is our nachos,” Steven said. “Instead of using tortilla chips, we fry our own potato chips, so it’s our own spin on classic nachos. Those are some things we’re looking at doing.”

Approximately a dozen sauces, including five distinct barbecue flavors, are also set to make their return.

“I don’t mind saying I’m a little anxious about getting open, but my biggest anxiety is making sure we’re properly staffed,” Steve said. “We have a small core staff of four people, who have been with us a long time, and they’re all coming back. We just need to add to our team so we can operate on normal hours.”

When customers do return to Okie Dokies Smokehouse, they’ll be greeted by a familiar decor with signs reading, “Welcome to Swannanoa” and “Swannanoa Swine Dining.”

“Since the beginning, our idea was to be a place with familiar faces when our customers come in, and be part of this community,” Steve said. “We’re looking forward to getting back to doing our part, while serving people delicious food.”